64 Beverage Dynamics • March/April 2015
www.beveragedynamics.com
Scotch Whisky
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LATEST FROM THE LOWLANDS AND ISLANDS
New from the Scottish Lowlands is Auchentoshan American Oak
Single Malt Whisky, the brand's fi rst expression matured exclusively
in fi rst fi ll ex-Bourbon casks. The North American oak barrels used
for oak maturation are fi rst seasoned with Bourbon whiskey, which
serves to remove the harsher bitter oak tannins and break down the
oak to release even more vanilla, coconut and silky maturation oils.
"Auchentoshan prides itself on its unique tradition of triple distilling
every single drop," notes Claire Richards, director of world whisky and
Cognac at Beam Suntory. "This means that the spirit produced reaches
81.5% alcohol by volume, signifi cantly higher than most single malt
whisky distilleries in Scotland. The lightness of the liquid enables it to
more readily absorb every characteristic it is exposed to in the cask."
Highland Park on the island of Orkney is the northernmost dis-
tillery in the world. Joining its esteemed range of single malts in 2014
was Highland Park Dark Origins. The new release was inspired by
Highland Park's founder, Magnus Eunson, and is a permanent addi-
tion to Highland Park's core range. It's also the fi rst no-age statement
expression in the lineup.
Dark Origins stands alone from the core range in that it uses twice
as many fi rst fi ll Sherry casks as the classic Highland Park 12 year old.
Notes Steph Ridgway, brand manager for Highland Park Whisky, "The
result is a naturally darker malt with a richer, sherry/spice fl avor, and the
signature sweet smoke that fans of our whisky have come to know and
(Thousands 9-Liter Cases) 12/13
Brand Type Supplier 2012 2013 % Chg
House of Dewar's FB Bacardi USA 1,180 1,205 2.1%
Johnnie Walker Black FB Diageo 860 940 9.3%
Johnnie Walker Red FB Diageo 680 710 4.4%
Clan MacGregor USB William Grant & Sons 508 470 -7.5%
Chivas Regal FB Pernod Ricard USA 393 392 -0.3%
The Glenlivet SM Pernod Ricard USA 361 387 7.2%
Buchanan FB Diageo 270 335 24.1%
J & B FB Diageo 260 213 -18.1%
Scoresby USB Diageo 224 205 -8.5%
Inver House USB Sazerac 202 197 -2.5%
Total Leading Brands 4,938 5,054 2.3%
Others 3,702 3,781 2.1%
Total Scotch Whisky 8,640 8,835 2.3%
FB=Foreign Bottled; USB=U.S. Bottled; SM=Single Malts.
Auchentoshan
American Oak
Ancnoc Highland
Single Malt
Grand Macnish
Black
Oban Little Bay
Single Malt
Balblair Highland Single Malt
LEADING BRANDS OF SCOTCH WHISKY
